Verdict expected in the inquest of teenage biker Ryan Acaster after CPS decide not to pursue criminal charges

AN INQUEST verdict is expected to be reached over the tragic death of teenager Ryan Acaster.

The jury is expected to go out before noon today (Friday) following the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision on Tuesday not to pursue criminal charges over the motorcyclist’s death.

The 17-year old was killed after colliding with a lethal metal wire strung across two trees on a country path in Crossens near Southport on July 21, 2008.

Ryan, a keen off-road biker, had been with two friends on New Lane, where he drove his 110cc off-road bike on dirt tracks they thought were public land.

Pathologist Alison Armour said Ryan, from Chorley, died from blunt head trauma but could not say whether wearing a helmet may have prevented his death.

On Tuesday, the court heard how gamekeeper Adrian Johnson had put up a sign warning of ‘no access’ to a private road known as Sutton’s Cart Track in an attempt to stop a spate of fly-tipping and to deter anglers from parking there.

The track is part of the 2,000-acre Hesketh Estate, which leases game-shooting rights to Southport businessman, Nicholas Aubrey.

Mr Johnson, who has worked as gamekeeper for 25 years, told coroner Dr James Adeley how he had discussed putting the wire cable up with his employer Mr Aubrey towards the end of June 2008.

Mr Johnson erected the wire halfway down the track where the trees were thicker and fastened the sign with cable ties to the wire, adding that he was unaware of motorcyclists or horse riders using the track.

When asked about vandalism of signs by the coroner, Mr Johnson admitted that signs never lasted long and vandals would break them down.

Mr Johnson said he was made aware that the sign had gone a couple of days before the accident and he searched for the sign but couldn’t find it.

He found a children’s pink T-shirt had been tied to the wire and thought it was adequate at the time to alert people to the cable.

Accident investigator PC Adrian Harrison told the coroner that the wire was an obvious risk.

He said: “If I was on patrol and came across that wire with a T-shirt on and had bolt cutters in the car, I would have cut it down.

“That is both my personal and professional opinion. The wire was almost invisible bar the cloth on it blending into the background.”

The coroner will begin his summing up of all the evidence this morning.